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In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has [#permalink]

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29 Oct 2012, 11:49

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In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has historically been seven years, but now it is nearly nine years. Car manufacturers claim that the current poor economy has forced people to put off buying new cars, and thus when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the car manufacturers' prediction?

(A) Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. (B) When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. (C) The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. (D) The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. (E) Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences.

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29 Oct 2012, 11:52

I can see why E is correct but can someone explain why A is wrong ?

If fewer no of cars are being manufactured, people will have fewer options to buy cars, even in a good economy. So they will have to use old cars longer. Hence the average age of cars will increase.
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29 Oct 2012, 12:24

AbhiJ wrote:

In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has historically been seven years, but now it is nearly nine years. Car manufacturers claim that the current poor economy has forced people to put off buying new cars, and thus when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels. Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the car manufacturers' prediction?

(A) Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. (B) When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. (C) The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. (D) The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. (E) Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences.

Answer - E)

A) is not right because it bears no change to the conclusion. Look at it from a supply and demand stand point:Argument says: bad economy -> lower demandA. says: supply is lower now.

Lower supply does not mean lower demand. You can still have lower supply and higher demand (or lower supply and low(er) demand).

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In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has historically been seven years, but now it is nearly nine years. Car manufacturers claim that the current poor economy has forced people to put off buying new cars, and thus when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels. Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the car manufacturers' prediction?

(A) Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. (B) When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. (C) The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. (D) The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. (E) Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences.

Option (A) is actually a result of 'people putting off buying new cars'. It is not the reason why people are putting off buying new cars. The supply is controlled by the demand. The car manufacturers make cars according to the demand. Since fewer people are buying cars, fewer cars are being manufactured now. The car manufacturers are hoping that when the economy improves, people will start buying more cars (just an inference from the tone of the argument) . They will obviously not keep the supply the same. If the demand increases, they will increase the supply.

As we see, (E) works out well. Obviously, our assumption of the relation between supply and demand in option (A) is correct.
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If fewer no of cars are being manufactured, people will have fewer options to buy cars, even in a good economy. So they will have to use old cars longer. Hence the average age of cars will increase.

If you read the option A again and again you will feel that its actually strengthening.Lets see how:-

The car companies may not be manufacturing new cars because of the recession or they are so hit by recession that they dont have enough money to flood the market with cars.Hence it is because of economy that the cars are not being sold.in order to weaken we must prove its coz of economy that the cars are not being sold its something else.

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If fewer no of cars are being manufactured, people will have fewer options to buy cars, even in a good economy. So they will have to use old cars longer. Hence the average age of cars will increase.

If you read the option A again and again you will feel that its actually strengthening.Lets see how:-

The car companies may not be manufacturing new cars because of the recession or they are so hit by recession that they dont have enough money to flood the market with cars.Hence it is because of economy that the cars are not being sold.in order to weaken we must prove its coz of economy that the cars are not being sold its something else.

For argument's sake lets consider that there is a factory strike or shortage of auto parts supply, which causes that less vehicles are being manufactured. Hence even though more people want new cars they cannot purchase the same. Hence they will be using old cars which would increase the average age of cars. Though I see that this is a less likely situation than the one you/others mentioned hence I would agree. Still I would say that if there were no other competing options available then many people would have selected A.
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The question is not can you rise up to iconic! The real question is will you ?

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If fewer no of cars are being manufactured, people will have fewer options to buy cars, even in a good economy. So they will have to use old cars longer. Hence the average age of cars will increase.

If you read the option A again and again you will feel that its actually strengthening.Lets see how:-

The car companies may not be manufacturing new cars because of the recession or they are so hit by recession that they dont have enough money to flood the market with cars.Hence it is because of economy that the cars are not being sold.in order to weaken we must prove its coz of economy that the cars are not being sold its something else.

For argument's sake lets consider that there is a factory strike or shortage of auto parts supply, which causes that less vehicles are being manufactured. Hence even though more people want new cars they cannot purchase the same. Hence they will be using old cars which would increase the average age of cars. Though I see that this is a less likely situation than the one you/others mentioned hence I would agree. Still I would say that if there were no other competing options available then many people would have selected A.

If there is a strike nad production has stop and people are in dire need of buying one, they will surely opt for companies manufacturing cars in the market.I feel we are going too beyond the scope of the argument.Option A is a trap, if you are in hurry you will opt fr it but its actually strengtheningAs per powerscore its a SHELL GAME

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31 Oct 2012, 08:28

AbhiJ wrote:

In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has historically been seven years, but now it is nearly nine years. Car manufacturers claim that the current poor economy has forced people to put off buying new cars, and thus when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels. Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the car manufacturers' prediction?

(A) Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. (B) When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. (C) The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. (D) The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. (E) Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences.

This is the conclusion..

the current poor economy has forced people to put off buying new cars, and thus when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels.

we have to weaken this thing..

A-fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in MORIGIA?? wat if more cars are now being imported?? what if demand is low thats y car manufacturing has decreased??

second thing...how is it weakening the another part of conclusion..avg age of cars will return to former level?? E explain that..

E says..its not the economy that have increased or decreased age of cars..its the ppl own wish..so either economy in reccesion or expansion they r not gonna buy new cars ..so it directly hits the conclusion..

Re: In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has [#permalink]

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30 Oct 2013, 10:03

Conclusion: when the economy improves, the average age of cars will return to former levels. means people will start replacing their old cars with new ones.

Reason: poor economy.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the car manufacturers' prediction?

Pre-think: People will not replace their car if new technology has enhanced the average life of the car (It was my thinking).

(A) Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. fewer cars are now being manufactured, means price will be high and this may continue even after economy will show upward trend. High price low selling.

(B) When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. - don't know whether car is an expensive purchase or not.

(C) The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. don't know whether greater upkeep is better deal than buying new car or not.

(D) The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. - Out of scope.

(E) Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences. - clearly alternate reason. so, correct choice.

Re: In Morigia the average age of cars that are still in use has [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2013, 08:47

well, one of the best ways i found is stop overthinking... we got 2 minutes and over thinking is not helping at all.

1. Fewer cars per year are now being manufactured in Morigia than were being manufactured there five years ago. (So? Cars may be imported now instead)2. When the threat of job loss is particularly strong, people are reluctant to commit themselves to expensive purchases. (economy->job loss threat->ppl not buying (too much inference here or beating around the bush)2. The older a car is, the greater the amount of upkeep it requires. (Still would be cheaper than a new car but irrelevant)4.The air-pollution control devices now being used in cars manufactured in Morigia cost less than those that were used seven years ago. (who cares about air pollution? well in this question atleast)5. Most people in Morigia now believe that replacing an old car with a new one has very undesirable ecological consequences.(Reason->Inference...direct answer...no beating around the bush)

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If fewer no of cars are being manufactured, people will have fewer options to buy cars, even in a good economy. So they will have to use old cars longer. Hence the average age of cars will increase.

If you read the option A again and again you will feel that its actually strengthening.Lets see how:-

The car companies may not be manufacturing new cars because of the recession or they are so hit by recession that they dont have enough money to flood the market with cars.Hence it is because of economy that the cars are not being sold.in order to weaken we must prove its coz of economy that the cars are not being sold its something else.

For argument's sake lets consider that there is a factory strike or shortage of auto parts supply, which causes that less vehicles are being manufactured. Hence even though more people want new cars they cannot purchase the same. Hence they will be using old cars which would increase the average age of cars. Though I see that this is a less likely situation than the one you/others mentioned hence I would agree. Still I would say that if there were no other competing options available then many people would have selected A.

Another reason to eliminate A: we don't know what "fewer" could be. It could be a reduction from lets say 100 to 5, or from 100 to 99! If latter is the case then clearly we can mark out A! Point being that the word "fewer" is VERY subjective.

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13 Nov 2013, 11:18

surbhi87 wrote:

Another reason to eliminate A: we don't know what "fewer" could be. It could be a reduction from lets say 100 to 5, or from 100 to 99! If latter is the case then clearly we can mark out A! Point being that the word "fewer" is VERY subjective.

E is the clear choice.

I think that is more of a DS approach, but in the end, anything that leads to a right choice is a winner!

gmatclubot

Re: Morigia - the average age of cars -Why A is wrong ?
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13 Nov 2013, 11:18